A man has been charged with 10 offences after a string of alleged armed break-ins in Glen Innes triggered two police pursuits and a search that stretched into bushland near Yetman.
About 7.15am on Thursday, 6 August, officers from New England Police District were called to a unit on Grieve Lane, Glen Innes, following reports of a break and enter.
Police were told a woman in her 40s living at the unit woke to find an unknown man inside, after he had allegedly kicked in a door.
The man allegedly began rummaging through a bedroom demanding car keys. A neighbour, a man in his 50s, confronted him. The alleged intruder reportedly produced a hunting knife before leaving the scene with another man.
No injuries were reported, but a set of car keys was taken during the incident.
Police were then told of further alleged offences shortly afterwards at a showground on Torrington Street, Glen Innes. There, a man allegedly forced entry into a caravan and threatened the occupants with a knife, demanding keys and money.
He allegedly stole the keys to a Dodge pickup truck and a necklace, before he and another man got into the vehicle, still attached to the caravan, and drove through closed gates onto Hunter Street, Glen Innes.
Police attended and made inquiries. Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command later located the vehicle on Strathbogie Road, Wellingrove, and began a pursuit. It was called off shortly after due to safety concerns.
A second pursuit was launched later the same day, but the vehicle could not be located in bushland near Yetman.
Police then turned to the local community for help. With the assistance of residents, including farmers in the area, and after further inquiries, officers located and arrested a 29-year-old man in a yard on a rural property on Holdfast Road, Yetman, about 2.30pm on Sunday, 9 August.
A knife was also allegedly seized during the arrest.
The man was taken to Inverell Police Station, where he was charged with 10 offences: two counts of aggravated break and enter with intent while armed, robbery armed with an offensive weapon, stealing a motor vehicle, destroying or damaging property, police pursuit involving driving dangerously without stopping, driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period, failing to stop a vehicle when directed, driving recklessly or furiously or at a speed or in a manner dangerous, and using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
He was refused bail and is due to appear before Bail Division Court 5 today, Monday, 10 August.
Police inquiries continue.
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